Businessman Wilfredo Keng said he felt “vindicated” with the cyber libel conviction of veteran journalist Maria Ressa.
“I have been vindicated, at least, to the extent possible considering that the damage had already been done. Even today, when the truth should have set me free, Rappler’s lies still resound after the bang of the gavel has faded away,” Keng said.
Knowing that he had “done nothing to deserve false accusations” against him, Keng said he decided to pursue legal action against Ressa and her former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr.
“This is my bid to protect my name, and my sacrifice for my children and our future generations, who deserve nothing less than freedom in the form of absolute truth,” Keng said.
Keng said Ressa “with one click of a button, attempted to destroy” his name.
The businessman also hit Ressa for “portraying herself as an alleged defender of press freedom and as a purported target of the Philippine government.”
“This in no way exempts her from respecting and following Philippine laws. If anything, being a public figure, mas malaki ang kaniyang responsibilidad na magsabi ng totoo at sumunod sa batas,” he said. (Noreen Jazul)
